Some homeowners are afraid of cleaning their leather sofa. This kind of sofa can be very expensive and delicate, and one small mistake can damage it. Although this furniture requires special techniques for cleaning, the task could be a simple one if you have the right tools and procedures.

Before doing the cleaning task, here are some basic facts that you should know about leather. This product is created through the tanning of animal skin and rawhide. There are several forms of leather, all of which are based on the tanning processes used. These types include the vegetable tanned, chrome tanned, synthetic tanned, aldehyde tanned, and alum tawed leathers. In vegetable tanned leather, the primary tanning ingredient is tannin. Other plant based ingredients may also be used in this type of leather. Meanwhile, chromium sulfate and other chromium salts are used for tanning the chrome tanned type. The synthetic tanned form of leather is tanned utilizing aromatic polymers. Aldehyde tanned products are tanned using oxazolidine or glutaraldehyde compounds. Lastly, aluminum salts mixed with several protein sources and binders are used to transform the alum tawed product.

Here are some handy tips to clean your leather sofa. If your sofa is made from finished leather, the task is very simple. Using a rag, gently dampen some soap into the furniture. Use a clean towel or any clean fabric to wipe it dry. There are different cleaning methods for different kinds of stains. For ink stains, some home experts recommend spraying the sofa with any kind of hairspray and then wipe it clean. Water stains are easier to clean. Use damp cloths to remove these kinds of stains because water will naturally dry out from the sofa. Once the furniture is dry already, you can apply a leather conditioner on the area. Use a clean towel to gently blot grease stains. Some people believe that corn starch and talcum powder will remove the grease. For pet urine such as dog and cat urine, use cloth or paper towels to wipe them away. Some pet urine odors may still linger for a while. It is a good idea to apply pet urine odor removers. There are many commercial odor removers available. However, make sure to select one that is suitable for leather.

As you probably will agree, prevention is always the best strategy to keep your leather sofa clean. Always protect your sofa from harmful elements like direct sunlight, an open window (during bad weather water CAN find its way onto your sofa)   To help with this tactic a quick and a easy solution is to purchase  a sofa cover.   It doesn’t look very great compared to the natural leather, however it will preserve the couch during times that guests or friends aren’t over.    Also, avoid placing sharp objects so that the furniture will not be damaged.  Our kids aren’t allowed near the living room couch with anything sharp, or anything they can put in their mouth.  That means scissors, pencils, pens,  food, drink and pretty much everything else that can drop and stain the couch.

Treat your leather couch with care, and it will last for many years.  Its a significant investment…so take proper precautions to protect it from stains and other damage.